Safeguarding Policy 2023

Table of Contents

1. Statement of Intent

StopSO is a child-protection charity providing therapy for those who have inappropriate thoughts or behaviour toward children also supporting their victims and their families. During the course of its work StopSO Members or Trustees may have opportunities to be in direct contact with children young people and vulnerable adults who may have been subjected to sexual abuse. It is therefore imperative that all StopSO therapists Trustees volunteers and representatives are instructed in this Safeguarding Policy which should be read in conjunction with other relevant documents which describe the expected conduct of such individuals.

For the purposes of this document:

  • A child is defined as that of being under 18 years of age.
  • A vulnerable adult is defined as someone who is over 18 years of age and is getting or may need help and services to live in the community.

When reference is made to a child throughout this report the same actions would apply to a vulnerable adult. When reference is made to therapists the same actions would apply to Trustees volunteers and representatives including consultants.

2. StopSO Commitment

StopSO therapists and Trustees will always seek to ensure that any therapy given by their Members to children and young people whether on or offline are safe and supervised. This will involve ensuring that risks are minimised by setting up effective procedures for:

  • Making sure that all therapists who wish to work with children and young people are sufficiently trained to do so.
  • Ensuring that appropriate and timely risk assessments are ongoing throughout the work.
  • Responding compassionately and appropriately to accidents complaints and allegations of abuse.
  • Ensuring therapists have adequate insurance cover for any activity with children and young people.
  • Regularly reviewing, monitoring, and updating procedures where appropriate.

3. Identifying and Reporting Child Protection Concerns

3.1 Designated Safeguarding Lead

The Designated Safeguarding Lead for the organisation will be Dr Glyn Hudson-Allez and Mr Steve Johnson. On occasions when this person is unavailable this role may be delegated another specified member of the Trustees. All child protection concerns will also be notified to the Chair of Trustees. The reporting of concerns to statutory agencies should be clear following appropriate enquiries and always in writing.

3.2 What is a child protection concern?

All those who come into contact with children young people and families in their everyday work including practitioners who do not have a specific role in relation to child protection have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Any concerns about a known (i.e. named) child or young person must be referred to the local authority social services department or the police. Local authorities are under a duty to make enquiries or cause enquiries to be made where there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm (sec 47 Children Act 1989).

4. Responding to an allegation of child abuse

If in the course of a referral to StopSO that a named child or young person is in immediate danger of abuse or injury social services should be contacted to investigate. Any concerns must be raised immediately with the Designated Safeguarding Lead. In general the person should discuss their concerns with the informant and/or if a child or young person is disclosing as appropriate to their age and understanding.

6. Pre-Trial Therapy

All relevant staff should be trained in understanding the procedures required under Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)/Home Office guidance for working with young people pre-trial. All pre-trial situations should be discussed with the relevant police officers and CPS before any work is undertaken. Therapists who are concerned about access that the court may have to young peoples’ records should acquaint themselves with PII (Public Interest Immunity) which is a defence against the disclosure of confidential documents.

7. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks

All therapists volunteers and trustees working with children and young people will be DBS checked at enhanced level. Enhanced checks are for anyone engaging in regular activity which involves caring for training supervising or being in sole charge of vulnerable groups. Enhanced checks contain the same information as standard checks but with the addition of a check on the barred lists if requested and any locally held police force information considered relevant to the job role by chief police officers.

8. Supervision

Monthly supervision is required for all therapists preferably with a StopSO supervisor based on the number of clinical hours undertaken. If however the therapist does not receive sufficient referrals to warrant a specialist supervisor attendance at the StopSO peer supervision groups should be encouraged. The supervision sessions should be based on an agreed structure that should include formative aspects (developing the therapist); restorative aspects (helping them deal with the personal impact of the work) and normative aspects (ensuring that they are working to agreed standards). All aspects of safeguarding should be discussed with the supervisor to help keep emotive issues raised in perspective.

Appendix 1: Safeguarding flow chart